Edgar A. Erdman Sr., 79, owner of pool company

May 29, 2002

Edgar A. Erdman Sr., former owner of a swimming pool installation company and descendant of a family whose farmland became Erdman Avenue, died yesterday at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care of complications from a fall in his Rosedale home. He was 79.

Mr. Erdman was born and raised in Forest Park, and attended Baltimore public schools until leaving to help support his family. In 1942, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in South America. He held the rank of corporal at his discharge in 1946.

After working as an Electrolux vacuum cleaner salesman, Mr. Erdman became a construction foreman in the 1960s for Ira C. Rigger Pools. He established his firm, Erdman Construction Co., in 1976, specializing in the installation of in-ground pools.

In the early 1980s, he founded Caribbean Pools with his two sons, operating the business until retiring in 1985.

Interested in his family history, Mr. Erdman, with assistance from a daughter-in-law, Lorrie Erdman, began searching records and visiting cemeteries to locate graves of his ancestors.

"He was descended from an immigrant from Germany, Peter Gottlieb Erdman, who arrived in Baltimore about 1800," Ms. Erdman said.

The Erdman family members, who were farmers, settled near what is now the northeast corner of Clifton Park and acquired many parcels of land. Eventually, Erdman Avenue was cut through from Harford Road to Belair Road in the mid-1800s.

Mr. Erdman enjoyed entertaining family and friends at weekly barbecues that were held around his backyard pool. He also enjoyed gardening and home-improvement projects.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Lassahn Funeral Home, 7401 Belair Road.

Mr. Erdman is survived by his wife of 50 years, the former Emma Martha Rauf; two sons, Edgar A. Erdman Jr. of Bowleys Quarters and Earl L. Erdman of Rosedale; a daughter, Elaine R. Girolamo of Rosedale; a sister, Grace E. Quinn of Lake Hopatcong, N.J.; and seven grandchildren.